Method and machine for forming paper cones



y 9, 1968 R. T. WISE ET AL 3,391,617

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER CONES Filed Aug. 5, 1966 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. !5A

FIG-.1

' INVENTORS ROBERT T. WISE AT TORNEYS BY LEONARD A. ERICKSON ngHoA/EY, MILLER a RAMBO July 9, 1968 R. T. WISE T AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER CONES N 0 O m S B Z A m M MEI R E m v fi a M N DI m R m T.D I- IT m m u A H M 0 0 RE MAHONEY,

rliiled Aug. 1966 July 9, 1968 R. T. WISE ET AL 3,391,617

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER CONES BY LEONARD A. ERICKSON ATTORNEYS V July 9, 1968 RT. WISE ET AL 3,391,617

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER CONES Filed Aug. 5, 1966 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ROBERT T. WISE LEONARD A. ERICKSON MAZQNEY, MILLER a RAM 0 It) ATTORNEYS July 9, 1968 .T.w1s ET AL 3,391,617

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER CONES Filed Aug. 5, 1966 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ROBERT T. WISE BY LEONARD A. ERICKSON MAHONEY, MILLER 8 RAMBO ATTORNEYS July 9, 1968 R. T. WISE ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER CONES Filed Aug.

FIG. IO

N w m Ms O K A Y T m R E m N v m I N ART l. E T I TDL-A TR 2 6 M 5 BOY) I OE RL 0 5 55 BY MA HONE y 1968 R. T. WISE ET AL 3,391,617

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER (JONES Filed Aug. 5, 1966 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORS ROBERT T. WISE BY LEONARD A. ERICKSQN MA-IYONEY, MILLER 8 RAMBO ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,391,617 Patented July 9, 1963 3,391,617 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER CONES Robert T. Wise, Worthington, and Leonard A. Erickson,

Columbus, Ohio, assignors to Big Drum, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 56,934 21 Claims. (Ci. 93-362) This invention relates to a Method and Machine for Forming Paper Cones. It has to do, more particularly, with a method and machine for forming paper cones of the type used as a receptacle and protective wrapper or package for an edible cone which is adapted to contain a confection such as ice cream.

The machine of the present invention is adapted to have a roll of paper in strip form with parallel side edges mounted therein and to pull from the roll continuously the strip while simultaneously slitting and trimming the paper and rolling it into conical form with overlapping edges and at the same time applying glue thereto to retain it in that conical form. One of the important advantages of this method and machine is that less paper is used in forming the blank as compared to generally employed methods. Wastage of the paper strip is kept to a bare minimum due to the pattern of the flat cone blank cut from the strip and the manner in which the blank is trimmed, rolled up and glued into conical form.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as this description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a preferred machine capable of carrying out the steps of the process of forming the cones.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the machine illustrating the progress of the strip of paper therethrough during the forming of the cone.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic plan view of the machine.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, end elevational view taken from the position indicated at line 3-3 at the outlet end of the machine.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken transversely of the machine along the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 through the cone-forming spindle and the combination vacuum and air pressure valve mounted therein FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 through the set of slitting rollers for producing longitudinally spaced slits in the strip of paper.

FIGURE 6a is a plan view of the paper strip showing the successive longitudinally spaced slits produced by the rollers of FIGURE 6 in the paper strip.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 indicating the application of the first slow-setting adhesive to the paper strip at longitudinally spaced intervals.

FIGURE 7:: is a plan view of the strip showing the adhesive applied thereto by the operation indicated in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional View taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 2 showing a set of scoring rollers for providing a double score-line transversely of the strip at longitudinally spaced intervals.

FIGURE 8a is a plan view of the strip showing the scored lines produced by the operation indicated in-FIG- URE 8.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating the aplication of the second fast-setting ad hesive to the paper strip at the same longitudinally spaced intervals.

FIGURE 9a is a plan view of the strip showing the adhesive applied thereto by the operation indicated in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view illustrating the shearing knives for shearing the paper strip transversely into successive blanks of proper lengths.

FIGURE 10a is a plan view of the paper strip with a blank separated therefrom by the operation illustrated in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic view illustrating how the blank is rolled up to form the cone and is simultaneously trimmed to form a proper upper edge.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 but illustrating further progress in the rolling and trimming operation.

FIGURE 13 is a view of the trimmed blank as if it were flattened.

FIGURE 14 is a schematic side elevational view, partly broken away, showing the completely rolled cone on the mandrel and the point-blunting operation.

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of the completely rolled and glued cone.

FIGURE 15a shows how the upper edge of the cone may have a bead formed thereon.

The successive steps of the process are performed at the successive stations of the machine which are indicated schematically in FIGURE 1. The finished paper cone C is ilustrated in FIGURES 15 and 15a. It is preferably formed of paper but may be formed of other suitable strip or film material, such as plastic. The cone is so formed that it has overlapping edges which produce a seam S, the laminations of which are retained together by suitable adhesive applied during the forming process. At this scam, there are a pair of weakened lines W, formed by perforating or scoring, which extend inwardly and circumferentially from an outer straight edge 0 to provide the tear strip T. The inner edge I is also straight but on its upper extent at the upper edge U of the cone, it is provided with an inwardly and circumferentially extending projection or tab P which has a straight outer extremity E and a lower straight edge L, its upper edge being a continuation of the upper edge U. If desired, a bear U may be provided on the edge U.

In forming this cone, a roll of material 20, which preferably is paper as indicated, is mounted on a rod or shaft 21 suitably supported for rotation on the frame of the machine. The paper is in strip form, rolled in the roll, and is of suitable width to form the cone C according to this invention. The strip of paper 20 has the opposed parallel edges 0 and it is an important feature of this invention that less paper is used in forming the cone blank from the strip by making all the transverse cuts in the strip at right angles to the edges of the strip so that straight knives can be used and a minimum of material will be used in producing the substantially rectangular or square blank. Furthermore, wastage is prevented by not having the tear tab formed as a portion which projects from the transversely severed edge of the blank but, on the other hand, by having it formed within that edge.

The strip 20 is pulled from the roll and is passed into association with various sets of rollers suitably supported on the frame of the machine at successive longitudinal intervals. The first rollers about which the strip passes are the idler strip-tensioning rollers 22 and 23. Then the strip passes between a pair of cooperating driven rollers 24 and 25 which exert a positive pull on the strip to unwind it from the roll. Next the strip passes between a pair of positively driven slitting rollers 26 and 27 and then between a pair of positively driven rollers 28 and 29. Be-

tween these latter two pairs of rollers is an adhesive-applying gun 30 which applies adhesive to the lower surface of the strip. Next the strip 20 passes between the pair of positively driven scoring rollers 31 and 32 and then on between a pair of positively driven shearing rollers 33 and 34 and theen between a pair of positively and faster driven rollers 35 and 36. A second adhesive-applying unit 37 is located between the pairs of rollers 3132 and 33-34. Finally, the strip of paper 20 passes into association with the cone-forming spindle unit 40.

The drive for the various rollers and unit 40 may be of various types but in the example shown (FIGURE 2) it comprises, at one side of the machine, a motor 41 driving a speed reducer 42 which, in turn, drives a gear box 43. Gear box 43 drives a transverse shaft 44 which extends to the other side of the machine and drives a transmission 45 and the transmission drives the rollers 24 and 25 in counter-directions to pull the strip 20, passing therebetween, from the roll. Shaft 44, at this side of the machine, also is geared to drive the two pairs of rollers 3334 and 35-36, the rollers of each pair being driven in counterdirections. At the opposite side of the machine, the shaft 44 is geared to drive the various pairs of rollers 31-32, 28-29, and 26-27, the rollers of each pair being driven in counter-directions relatively. All the upper rollers 26, 28, 31, 33, and 35 are driven in the same direction and all the lower rollers 27, 29, 32, 34, and 36 are driven in the same direction, so that the strip 20 will be advanced continuously and progressively through the machine. The gear box 43 not only drives the shearing roller drive shaft 44 through the shaft and chain drive 43a but also drives the spindle unit 40 through the drive shaft 43!) (FIGURE 2). The adhesive-applying guns 30 and 37 are of a common type and are controlled at timed intervals, such as by the usual valves and cam means to be described later, to squirt a charge of adhesive onto the lower surface of the paper strip.

The first operation on the paper strip 20 is as it passes between the rollers 26 and 27 and is indicated in FIGURES 6 and 6a. At this station, a small slit S is produced which will eventually form the edge L of the extension P on the finished cone C. This slit is produced by a knife 46 which is carried by the upper roller 26 and has an arcuate cutting edge projecting from it and extending circumferentially, contacting with the lower roller 27 at intervals during its rotation. These slits S are produced at longitudinally spaced intervals along a predetermined line which is spaced inwardly from the adjacent edge of the strip and is parallel thereto.

Next, the unit 30 functions to apply the first adhesive to the lower surface of the strip 20 as indicated in FIG- URES 7 and7a. This adhesive will be of a cold, slowsetting type, such as a cold resin glue, but which will be very effective and long-lasting when it does finally set even to the oils in an edible pastry cone which the paper cone may receive. As indicated, it is applied in controlled squirts by the gun 30 and, as shown, is applied along a short, narrow area A and a longer, narrow area B, which are spaced apart longitudinally and are spaced inwardly in parallel relationship to the adjacent edge 0 of the paper strip, with a space D therebetween which is free or devoid of glue.

The next operation is indicated in FIGURES 8 and 8a and consists in forming the parallel, scored lines W which are formed in the space D between the adhesive areas A and B previously produced by the unit 30. These lines W preferably are score lines but could be perforated or otherwise weakened lines and are adapted to provide the tear strip T in the final cone C. They are formed at successive, longitudinally spaced intervals and extend inwardly from the adjacent edge 0 of the paper strip. These lines W are formed by the pair of knives 47 mounted in the roller 31, in angularly spaced positions and projecting from the periphery tnereof, for successively engaging the roller 32 during rotation of the rollers.

At the next station, as indicated in FIGURES 9 and 9a, the gun 37 functions to apply the second adhesive to the bottom of the strip over the same areas A and B to which it was previously applied or alongside or adjacent thereto. This adhesive is a quick-setting adhesive, preferably of the hot-resin, thermoplastic type. It will set quickly to hold the cone in its subsequently rolled-up condition until the first-applied permanent adhesive has a chance to set and since it is fast-setting, will allow minimum overlap of the cone edges in the forming or rolling operation but still permitting that operation to be performed immediately. As indicated in FIGURE 9a, it is applied at a and b over the original layers A and B of adhesive but along more narrow areas, but could be in other adjacent areas.

The next operation is severing the strip into separate blanks and is illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 10a. At this station, the roller 33 produces a pair of severance lines across the sheet, which cooperates with the longitudinal slits 8 previously produced, to completely sever a cone blank 0 from the strip. It will be noted that the roller 33 is provided with two shearing blades 48 and 49 which are anguiarly spaced and project from the periphery of the roller 33 for successive cooperation Wtih the roller 34. The knife 48 is a long knife extending most of the length of the roller 33 and the knife 49 is a short knife extending the remainder of the distance. These knives are merely straight knives extending transversely at right angles to the edges 0 of the strip 20. The knife 48 will sever the blank along the edge I and the knife 49 will sever it along the extension edge E, it being understood that the slit S, previously produced, provides the extension edge L.

Thus, the cone blank 0 of the shape shown in FIG- URE 10a is now completely formed and severed from the remainder of the paper strip. It will be noted that there is no wastage of material in forming this flat blank, the cuts that provide the edges I, L and E are straight and the extension P is merely notched out of the preceding blank leaving a corner notch N. Also, since the transverse cuts are at right angles to the edges 0 and the resulting blank is substantially square or rectangular, a minimum area of the strip is used in forming the blank. No complicated knives are required since the cuts are straight. This not only reduces the cost of the knives but also of sharpening them.

The blank 0 is now ready for forming into the final cone C by the unit 40, as indicated in FIGURE 11. In this operation, the leading edge I of the blank 0 is received between a pair of conical mandrels 50 and 51 and is held to the one mandrel 51 by a suction force to wind it into conical form. The mandrels 50 and 51 are driven in opposite directions and in directions to exert a pull on the blank 0 which is engaged thereby just as it is severed from the strip 20 although in FIGURE 10:: it is shown actually separated from the strip 20. This separation is accomplished by driving the rollers 35 and 36 faster than the adjacent roller 33 and 34. These mandrels are disposed in cooperative engagement for rotation about converging axes. During winding of the blank c on the mandrel 51, as indicated by a comparison of the broken lines with the solid lines in FIGURE 11, the blank 0 is shifted angularly from the straight line path of the strip 20 and the notch N will be at one end of the mandrel with the corner v at the other end and when the cone is completely formed, the point or vertex V will be formed by the corner v. At the same time the mandrels 50 and 51 are acting on the blank, a trimmer knife disc 52 is also acting thereon, cooperating with the flat, larger end 53 of the mandrel 51 and it will be noted that it is mounted for rotation about an axis parallel with the axis of the mandrel 51. As shown in FIGURE 12, the blank 0 will be trimmed along the line it to form the annular edge U on the finished cone C which is in a radial plane at a right angle to the axis of the mandrel. This small corner seg ment of material, which is severed along the line a and is indicated at Y in FIGURE 12, is the only waste material from the paper strip and this is at the corner of the blank with the notch N therein. The blank 0 is shown fiat in FIGURE 13 but in actual practice, as it is trimmed by cooperation of the cutter disc 52 with the edge of the mandrel 51, it is wound on the mandrel 51. At the completion of winding the blank c on the mandrel 51, the glued edges are brought into overlapping relationship and the pointed end V of the cone is blunted to aid in keeping it in rolled-up condition. This blunting is accomplished with a blunting tool 55 which is moved axially inwardly, as shown in FIGURE 14, and as described later. Because of the fast-setting adhesive applied by the unit 37, the blank can be rolled into cone-form immediately and the adhesive will hold it with a fiat seam of minimum overlap. Otherwise, a gradual spiral or helix overlap would be required and this, in turn, would require complicated edges on the blank with resulting wastage and complicated and expensive knives to produce those edges.

The details of the spindle unit for forming and trimming the cone blanks into the final cone C, are illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3, 4, and 5. The mandrel is carried by a spindle shaft which is suitably supported on the machine frame by a bearing structure 61 and is driven by a chain drive 62. The chain drive 62 also drives a sprocket 63 which is geared by a gear box 64 to a drive shaft 65. This shaft 65 is geared by suitable gearing 66 to drive both the mandrel 51 and the trimmer knife disc 52. The mandrel 51 is supported by the shaft spindle 59 which has its axis in converging relationship to the axis of the shaft 60 which supports the mandrel 50. The spindle 60 is supported by suitable bearing supports 67 and 68 carried by the machine frame. The trimmer disc 52 is carried by the shaft 69 and is supported by the bearing support 63, and an additional bearing support 70 carried by the frame, with the axis parallel to that of the spindle 59. The chain drive 62 includes a driving sprocket 71 which is mounted on a shaft 72 that is driven by a chain and sprocket drive 73 which, in turn, is driven by the previously mentioned shaft 43b from the gear box 43.

It is desirable to apply a vacuum force to the mandrel 51, as previously indicated, to cause the blank 0 to adhere thereto and wind thereon. Also, it is desirable to subsequently apply a positive air pressure to remove the formed cone C from the mandrel. For this purpose, the mandrel surface is provided with a series of openings 75 at the outer ends of radial passages which are in a straight line along the mandrel where the edges of the edge I engage it, as shown in FIGURE 4. An additional opening may be in the mandrel beneath the area where the extension P will engage it. These passages communicate at their inner ends with an axial passage 76 (FIGURE 5). The mandrel is removably mounted in the end of the spindle which is hollow and has a central bore extending completely therethrough in which a valve sleeve 78 is mounted. In this sleeve for axial sliding movement is mounted a valve rod 79. The outer end of this rod has an axial air passage 80 open at its outer end and closed at its inner end but adjacent this inner end it is provided with radial air passages 81. These passages 81 are adapted to be selectively brought into association, by axial reciprocation of the valve rod 79, with sets of annular passages 82 and 83, formed at axially spaced positions in the valve sleeve 78.

The annular passages 82 are connected to a suitable source of pressure through a radial bore 84 in the spindle 59 and the annular passages 83 are connected to a suitable source of vacuum through a radial bore 85. Connections to these sources are provided in a manifold 86 disposed around the spindle 59, which receives the ends of the supply lines 87 and 88 which are, respectively, for pressure and vacuum. The valve rod 79 is reciprocated in proper timed relationship by means of a rocker lever 90 which is pivoted to the rod at 89.

As the winding of the blank 0 on the mandrel 51 is 6 completed, the point V of the cone C is blunted by the tool 55. This tool is formed on the end of a rod 91 which is reciprocably mounted on a support 92 with its axis in alignment with the axis of the mandrel 51. The tool has a cup-shaped socket which is adapted to cooperate with and receive the point V of the cone. The rod 91 is reciprocated in timed relationship with the forming of the .cone by suitable leverage and linkage including the lever 93 fulcrumed at 94 to a suitable support on the machine frame. A rod 95 is connected to the lever 93 for swinging it at proper intervals. The rod 95 is reciprocated by cam means disposed in cooperation with its inner end (FIG- URE 3). The rod is pivoted at 96 to a support arm 97 which is mounted for rocking movement about a pivot rod 98. The extremity of the rod 95 carries a cam follower 99 which follows a peripheral cam 100 so as to reciprocate the rod 95 in preselected timed relationship to formation of the cone by the mandrels 50 and 51. The cam 100 is keyed to the shaft 72 for rotation with the sprocket 71. The tool 55 is moved axially inwardly to blunt the point V of the cone just prior to removal of the cone.

During winding of the cone blank c on the mandrel 51, the valve rod 79 is moved into a position to apply a vacuum force and upon completion, it is moved into a position to apply a pressure force through the openings 75 in the surface of the mandrel. Properly timed movement of the rod 79 is accomplished by cam means cooperating with the rocker lever 90 which reciprocates the valve rod. The lever 90 is a bell crank lever fulcrurned on the pivot rod 98 and has a rigid arm 101 which carries a follower 102 that operates in a slot in a cam 103 which is keyed to the shaft 72 and rotates therewith.

The adhesive applying units 30 and 37 may be controlled by the respective valves 106 and 107 which may be actuated at proper intervals by the cam shown in FIGURE 3.

The cams 103 and 100 and 105 are each of such form and are related to each other to obtain the operations which they respectively control during proper intervals which are timed and which time intervals are also related to each other.

It will be apparent from the above description that this invention provides a novel process and apparatus for producing a paper cone which also has novel characteristics. The cone is formed progressively by successive operations from a strip of paper or similar material. It is formed from a minimum amount of material severed from the strip with minimum wastage. The blank produced is square or rectangular and is severed at right angles to the edges 0 of the strip which makes it possible to use simple straight knives which have a low cost and are less costly to sharpen. No waste results from the formation of the tear strip T since this is formed within the blank by the score lines or weakened lines W which extend from the straight edge 0 of the blank. In the example indicated, the blank is formed with the extension P which provides an additional overlap at the seam. This is important when a bead U is to be subsequently formed on the upper edge U of the cone in a common manner for receiving and retaining a lid or closure or merely for strength. The material rolled up into the head will be the height of the extension P and there wil be a more extensive seam at the head which will overlap the seam S at its upper end. If the cone is not to have such a bead formed on it, the material may terminate at an upper level corresponding to the lower edge L of the extension P. In this case, only one knife 48 would be used in severing the blank from the strip and this knife would extend completely across the strip. The application of the two types of resins to the blank 0 is important since the capacity of the machine is not lowered by awaiting the setting of the first-applied, slow-setting resin, the second-applied, fast-setting resin holding the seam sufficiently when the cone C is finished until the slow-setting resin does set permanently. This fast-setting resin quickly holds the seam even though the overlap of the edges and I of the blank are not extensive. It will be noted that these edges 0 and I are disposed at a right angle.

Many advantages of the process and apparatus and the article formed thereby have been discussed above and others will be apparent.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

1. The method of producing a cone of flexible strip material such as paper or the like which comprises selecting a strip with opposed parallel edges, forming a blank by severing the strips at longitudinally spaced intervals by transverse cuts extending across the strip at right angles to the edges, and forming the resulting substantially square or rectangular blank into conical form with one edge of the blank corresponding to one edge of the strip and one edge of the blank corresponding to one of the straight cuts in adjacent overlapping relationship to form a seam.

2. The method of claim 1. in which a fast-setting adhesive is applied to the edges of the blank just prior to forming.

3. The method of claim 2 in which a slow-setting adhesive is previously applied to the said edges of the blank.

4. The method of claim 1 which comprises forming in said strip prior to severance weakened lines at successive, longitudinal intervals which extend transversely inwardly from one of the edges to form a tear strip therebetween, said blank formed in said severing operation having leading and trailing edges with the weakened tear strip forming lines therebetween and the overlapping seam-forming edges of the blank having the tear strip formed therein outermost and exposed with the tear strip extending from the extremity of the exposed edge inwardly.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the tear strip weakened lines are parallel with each other and at right angles to said opposed edges of the strip.

6. The method of claim 2 in which the strip is first slit at longitudinally spaced longitudinal slits and is cut at the successive transverse lines by cuts which extend only partially across the paper strip and join with said slits at the leading and trailing ends thereof so as to form a projection at the leading edge of the severed blank at one of said opposed edges of the strip.

7. The method of claim 5 including applying longitudinally extending areas of adhesive on the strip ahead of and behind said weakened tear strip forming lines.

8. The method of claim 7 in which different types of adhesives are applied at successive intervals in overlapping relationship.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the blank is trimmed as it is formed to provide an annular edge which is in a plane at a right angle to the axis of the formed cone.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the point of the cone is blunted to aid in keeping it in its formed condition.

11. Apparatus for forming a cone from a flexible strip of paper or the like having opposed parallel longitudinal edges comprising a set of severing rollers for transversely severing a blank from the strip at longitudinal intervals including a straight knife extending along the rollers at a right angle to the strip so as to produce straight cuts at successive longitudinal intervals at right angles to the opposed parallel edges of the strip, and a set of cooperating cone-shaped mandrels for receiving the leading edge of the severed blank and rolling it into conical form.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 including scoring rollers located ahead of the severing rollers through which the strip is passed to form weakened lines, at longitudinal intervals which extend inwardly from one of said edges.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the strip is provided with opposed parallel edges and is fed through the successive sets of rollers with the axes of the rollers extending transversely :of the strip, said scoring rollers embodying a scoring roller having angularly spaced but axially co-extensive scoring knives, said severing rollers embodying a severing roller having at least one scoring roller extending longitudinally thereof.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including another set of rollers for forming longitudinal slits at longitudinally spaced intervals in the strip, said severing rollers having angularly spaced knives each of which extends only part of the length of the roller and forms transverse cuts in the strip connecting with the leading and trailing ends of the slits.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 including a trimming roller cooperating with said forming mandrels for trimming the trailing edge of the blank to cause the formed cone to have an annular edge in a plane at right angles to the axis of the cone.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 including means for crushing and blunting the pointed end of the formed cone.

17. Apparatus according to claim 11 including means for applying pressure and vacuum to one of said mandrels during the forming of the blank.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 in which the mandrel has openings leading out to its surface, a central valve passage communicating with said openings, vacuum and pressure connections to said central passage, and a slidable valve associated with said passage for causing selective communication of the mandrel openings and said vacuum and pressure connections, and means for reciprocating said slidable valve.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 comprising camactuated means for timing and controlling both actuation of said valve and said blunting means.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 including means for applying adhesive to the strip at successive longitudinal intervals.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which said means comprises two sets of adhesive applying units for applying the adhesive along adjacent areas.

References Cited Loeser et al. 9336.2

BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A CONE OF FLEXIBLE STRIP MATERIAL SUCH AS PAPER OR THE LIKE WHICH COMPRISES SELECTING A STRIP WITH OPPOSED PARALLEL EDGES, FORMING A BLANK BY SEVERING THE STRIPS AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED INTERVALS BY TRANSVERSE CUTS EXTENDING ACROSS THE STRIP AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE EDGES, AND FORMING THE RESULTING SUBSTANTIALLY SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR BLANK INTO CONICAL FORM WITH ONE EDGE OF THE BLANK CORRESPONDING TO ONE EDGE OF THE STRIP AND ONE EDGE OF THE BLANK CORRESPONDING TO ONE OF THE STRAIGHT CUTS IN ADJACENT OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP TO FORM A SEAM. 